cutback
1 of 2noun
cut·back ˈkət-ˌbak 
1
: something cut back
2
: reduction
a cutback in funding
cut back
2 of 2verb
cut back; cutting back; cuts back
transitive verb
: to shorten by cutting : prune
intransitive verb
1
: to interrupt the sequence of a plot (as of a movie) by introducing events prior to those last presented
2
: cut down
cut back on sugar
Synonyms
Verb
- bob
- clip
- crop
- cut
- dock
- lop (off)
- nip
- pare
- poll
- prune
- shave
- shear
- snip
- trim
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb we need to cut back the bushes a bit so that the house number is visible from the street cut back the meeting so everyone could leave early for the long weekend
Recent Examples on the Web
Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2022 Uruguay winger Facundo Pellistri blew past left-back Jesus Angulo, who struggled all night, and hit a cutback cross into the path of Cavani, who made it 2-0. Theo Mackie, The Arizona Republic, 3 June 2022 In the past few summers, the pandemic led to a cutback rather than an outright cancellation. J.s. Marcus, WSJ, 27 July 2022 Nationwide, as inflation erodes profits and many companies have stockpiles of unsold goods, what usually follows is a cutback in staffing. Don Leestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2022 The company currently has about 7,000 employees, and a 10 percent cutback puts the number of affected workers somewhere around 700. Bill Hardekopf, Forbes, 26 May 2022 The June cutback announcements expand the cost-cutting trend that took hold last month and included layoffs at e-commerce company Thrasio and AI software company DataRobot. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 13 June 2022 On Saturday, the wingers’ struggles continued, as Epps’ first-half cutback to Calistri was the only truly dangerous chance that either created. Theo Mackie, The Arizona Republic, 5 June 2022 Delta’s cutback of its summer flight schedule comes after similar moves by other airlines facing staffing issues including American, JetBlue and Spirit. Kelly Yamanouchi, ajc, 26 May 2022 John Bacon, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2022 The compound in psychedelic mushrooms helped heavy drinkers cut back or quit entirely in the most rigorous test of psilocybin for alcoholism. Carla K. Johnson, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Aug. 2022 The compound in psychedelic mushrooms helped heavy drinkers cut back or quit entirely in the most rigorous test of psilocybin for alcoholism. Carla K. Johnson, ajc, 24 Aug. 2022 One of the main reasons for this content bloodbath is so Warner Bros. Discovery can cut back on paying residuals. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 22 Aug. 2022 Aggressive increases could cause businesses and consumers to cut back on spending, potentially hurting corporate earnings and economic growth. Alexander Osipovich, WSJ, 22 Aug. 2022 Asia Collective Night Market stays open fittingly late, and organizers say the ticketed format with extended hours and multiple entrances to the fairgrounds will cut back on long lines. Briona Butler, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022 Soaring energy prices have already helped push up inflation to a 40-year high of 9.4%, causing consumers to cut back on spending. Anna Cooban, CNN, 12 Aug. 2022 During these weekends, stores waive the sales tax to help residents cut back a little on the cost of clothing, office supplies, electronics, and more. Christine Mui, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2022 See More
Noun
That’s progress over previous months, but still a far cry from the 15% cutback Gov. Gavin Newsom called for last year. Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2022 Uruguay winger Facundo Pellistri blew past left-back Jesus Angulo, who struggled all night, and hit a cutback cross into the path of Cavani, who made it 2-0. Theo Mackie, The Arizona Republic, 3 June 2022 In the past few summers, the pandemic led to a cutback rather than an outright cancellation. J.s. Marcus, WSJ, 27 July 2022 Nationwide, as inflation erodes profits and many companies have stockpiles of unsold goods, what usually follows is a cutback in staffing. Don Leestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2022 The company currently has about 7,000 employees, and a 10 percent cutback puts the number of affected workers somewhere around 700. Bill Hardekopf, Forbes, 26 May 2022 The June cutback announcements expand the cost-cutting trend that took hold last month and included layoffs at e-commerce company Thrasio and AI software company DataRobot. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 13 June 2022 On Saturday, the wingers’ struggles continued, as Epps’ first-half cutback to Calistri was the only truly dangerous chance that either created. Theo Mackie, The Arizona Republic, 5 June 2022 Delta’s cutback of its summer flight schedule comes after similar moves by other airlines facing staffing issues including American, JetBlue and Spirit. Kelly Yamanouchi, ajc, 26 May 2022 Verb
National Weather Service meteorologist Marty Pope said officials cut back the discharge into the Pearl River from the Ross Barnett Reservoir by 10,000 cubic feet per second this morning. John Bacon, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2022 The compound in psychedelic mushrooms helped heavy drinkers cut back or quit entirely in the most rigorous test of psilocybin for alcoholism. Carla K. Johnson, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Aug. 2022 The compound in psychedelic mushrooms helped heavy drinkers cut back or quit entirely in the most rigorous test of psilocybin for alcoholism. Carla K. Johnson, ajc, 24 Aug. 2022 One of the main reasons for this content bloodbath is so Warner Bros. Discovery can cut back on paying residuals. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 22 Aug. 2022 Aggressive increases could cause businesses and consumers to cut back on spending, potentially hurting corporate earnings and economic growth. Alexander Osipovich, WSJ, 22 Aug. 2022 Asia Collective Night Market stays open fittingly late, and organizers say the ticketed format with extended hours and multiple entrances to the fairgrounds will cut back on long lines. Briona Butler, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022 Soaring energy prices have already helped push up inflation to a 40-year high of 9.4%, causing consumers to cut back on spending. Anna Cooban, CNN, 12 Aug. 2022 During these weekends, stores waive the sales tax to help residents cut back a little on the cost of clothing, office supplies, electronics, and more. Christine Mui, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1871, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
cuts back
verb
1
as in shaves
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument we need to cut back the bushes a bit so that the house number is visible from the street Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- shaves
- cuts
- clips
- trims
- crops
- prunes
- docks
- mows
- shears
- polls
- snips
- bobs
- lops (off)
- skives
- pares
- nips
- manicures
- whittles
- stumps
- shortens
- pinches
- curtails
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- extends
- lengthens
- elongates
2
as in shortens
to make less in extent or duration cut back the meeting so everyone could leave early for the long weekend Synonyms & Similar Words
- shortens
- reduces
- docks
- cuts down
- truncates
- abbreviates
- sums up
- curtails
- abridges
- decreases
- syncopates
- elides
- trims
- summarizes
- abstracts
- encapsulates
- recapitulates
- epitomizes
- digests
- compresses
- contracts
- prunes
- cuts
- modifies
- pares
- slashes
- subtracts (from)
- tapers
- diminishes
- moderates
- shrinks
- downsizes
- constricts
- retrenches
- abates
- dwindles
- lowers
- lessens
- deflates
- de-escalates
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- extends
- lengthens
- prolongs
- increases
- supplements
- expands
- elongates
- adds
- enlarges
- protracts
- blows up
- maximizes
- raises
- augments
- heightens
- boosts
- amplifies
- escalates
- dilates
- pumps up
- swells
- distends
- inflates
- aggrandizes
- balloons